Police say New London man threatened, assaulted store clerk

New London — Police arrested a 28-year-old New London man Thursday for allegedly uttering racial comments while assaulting a convenience store clerk.

The incident occurred at 6:30 p.m. at Sam’s convenience store at 485 Ocean Ave., when police received reports of an active fight between the store clerk and a customer.

Police said the customer, Max Whitehead, became upset with the clerk and threw money at him before climbing over the counter to physically assault him. While punching the clerk, Whitehead “made reference to the clerk’s national origin and threatened him because of it,” according to Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard.

The clerk sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Whitehead was charged with third-degree assault, intimidation based on bigotry or bias and breach of peace. Whitehead was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.